India, Jan. 7 -- The concept of nationalism can be defined in many ways but in short it is a sense that requires oneness, feeling the goodness of the nation and its people, unity in diversity and respect, love and pride towards the nation by its citizens. Tara Chand describes it in his book 'History of the Freedom Movement in India' as a state of mind in which the supreme loyalty of the individual is due to the nation-state. (Vol ii page 552)

This conflict between a nationalist and a traitor gained a topical relevance on a large scale following the clash between BJP supporters, including lawyers, and JNU students on the university campus and subsequently at a Delhi courthouse in 2016. The politics of self-styled patriotism smartly attemp...